Master Thesis Applied Earth Sciences

The thesis project is an individual research project based on the thesis proposal, which is to be approved as part of the Thesis Preparation module.

The thesis project has a nominal duration of 20 weeks. The actual time to be spent on the thesis project is 840 hours. If students do not work full-time, this should be reflected in the planning.

Unforeseen circumstances* leading to significant delays during the execution of the project may lead to an extension to be approved by the supervisor and/or graduation coordinator.

* Examples of valid reasons: illness, family circumstances, unavailability of supervisor(s), specific problems with research execution that are beyond the control of the student.

Assessment (Formative)

Regular progress meetings with supervisor(s) and the student.

Mid-term review halfway the project with assessment committee: student gives a presentation of progress and intermediate results. Pre-advice whether the student is going in the direction of a pass.

Draft thesis review meeting (green-light meeting): student must submit draft of complete thesis to the complete assessment committee at least 1 week before the meeting. During the meeting, the student will give a short presentation (~20 minutes), followed by discussion and defense (will be used for final summative assessment).

Based on the assessment of the draft thesis and performance in green-light meeting, it is decided whether the date of the final presentation and defense can be confirmed. The student receives feedback based on the assessment criteria of the MSc thesis rubric, and can use this to improve the draft. The student can start the administrative procedure to schedule their graduation after 20 working days. The final thesis must be provided to the committee at least 5 working days before the final presentation and defense.

If the quality is deemed insufficient, the student submits a plan how to repair this in consultation with the supervisor(s), and schedules a new review meeting in a timeframe that should allow for a sufficient repair. An initial fail will be accounted for in the final grade.

Final presentation and defense: students gives a presentation (~30 minutes) on the graduation project in public, followed by a Q&A by the audience, including committee.
The final presentation can only take place after having successfully completed all other obligations/modules of the programme.

Assessment (summative)
The thesis project will be assessed based on the assessment criteria of the MSc thesis rubric. The main criteria are:

• Scientific approach (25%)

• Quality of the result/product (25%)

• Behavioural competences (20%)

• Quality of written presentation (15%)

• Quality of oral presentation and defence (15%)

At most one partial grade for these main criteria may be lower than 5.8, but not less than 5.0.

Assessment committee minimally comprises:

• Direct supervisor (chair),

• Second supervisor/assessor from TU Delft,

At least two members should have UTQ or equivalent or be in process of obtaining it, and the members should be from at least 2 different sections/research groups.
The committee may have additional advisory members; they are not involved in the determination of the final grade.